Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, the world’s most luxurious all-inclusive cruise line, will focus on four key travel trends in 2018: multigenerational travel, solo travel, wellness travel and a younger, adventure-seeking generation of river cruisers.
“The nature of the travel industry is one that is constantly evolving,” said Ellen Bettridge, President & CEO of Uniworld. “In order to maintain our highly esteemed status, Uniworld continues to be diligent about adapting our guest programming to offer passengers the best possible experience on any Uniworld cruise.”
Multigenerational Travel
The multigenerational departures include programming like hiking, cooking demonstrations and language lessons, as well as a visit to the BMW factory in Regensburg, white-water rafting, biking to Monet’s garden at Giverny, a culinary treasure hunt and learning how to locally harvest mussels on the Venice Lagoon. Departures are conveniently scheduled during summer and winter school breaks and there are services of two dedicated Family Hosts to oversee all activities for young travellers, in addition to local guides and young ambassadors to ensure a memorable and authentic travel experience for the entire family. All meals include child-friendly menus. Uniworld offers 50 percent savings off the cruise-only fare for young travellers aged 4 to 17 when traveling with an adult.
Solo Travel
To give travellers the most value and flexibility while traveling solo, Uniworld offers attractive promotions targeted specifically to solo guests. Uniworld encourages guests to embark on a voyage of self-discovery and in order to ensure this is possible, is waiving or reducing the single supplement fee in 2017 on 30 of its most popular itineraries. Uniworld provides solo travellers with a variety of all-inclusive itineraries that venture everywhere from Europe’s major cities, to the smaller, less travelled villages. With open seating at every meal and small group excursions, Uniworld provides solo travellers the opportunity to encounter fellow travellers and by doing so, delivers the perfect balance for those eager to see the world solo.
Wellness Travel
Wellness travel has had a tremendous impact over the years, largely due to the increased emphasis on a healthy lifestyle within the aging boomer population and the desire to maintain it while traveling. Uniworld offers onboard yoga and other exercise classes and a Traveling Lite menu of healthy culinary options. On all Uniworld itineraries, there is an exclusive guided onshore program that combines the love for travel with a physically active lifestyle, with select local experts so guests can best experience destinations from a unique, intimate perspective while cycling with complimentary bicycles provided by the ship.
A Younger, Adventure-seeking Generation of River Cruisers
Uniworld recently announced U BY UNIWORLD—a new brand for adventure seekers 18-40 years old—which begin sailings in early 2018. Offering immersive and authentic experiences for the next generation of river cruisers, U BY UNIWORLD itineraries will focus on longer stays in major European cities, connecting explorers to local experiences and vibrant nightlife scenes, and offer a new culinary program, creative mixologists, communal dining tables and international DJ’s onboard.
Enchanting Danube for 2018
A top trip to consider in 2018 is the Enchanting Danube itinerary, one that will largely appeal to those that love history, art, architecture, music and exquisite food and wine. Guests will travel on Uniworld’s S.S Maria Theresa which features ultra-luxurious accommodations and an array of thoughtful personal touches, ensuring a truly indulgent and unforgettable voyage along the Danube River.
The ship allows a maximum of 150 guests, with 57 service staff onboard. Ship amenities include the beautifully designed Viennese Café and Baroque Restaurant; Bar du Leopard, a well-equipped fitness centre; enclosed heating swimming pool and Serenity River Spa; intimate Lipizzan Cinema for onboard screenings of popular films; and the Habsburg Salon with a full-service bar where house drinks are served to guests on an unlimited basis.
For centuries, the enchanting Danube has cast its spell on poets, musicians and artists of all kinds. Uniworld’s locally-based destination experts will take guests well beyond the “must-sees” of each region, offering fresh takes on classic sites, insider knowledge of delightful under-the-radar locales, and VIP access to places only a privileged few will ever experience—such as a private early-morning viewing of the acclaimed art collection of the Kunstkammer Vienna.
A veritable showcase of the best of Central Europe, any culturally curious world traveller will love to travel down the river, visiting old-world capitals, charming towns and villages, and two nights onshore in the Bavarian capital of Munich. There, you can admire the alpine grandeur of “Mad” King Ludwig’s turreted masterpiece—the inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle—and tour the futuristic BMW World, a tribute to the ingenuity of German engineering.
